Use of LCA as a Tool for Building Ecodesign. A Case Study of a Low Energy Building in Spain

Abstract

This paper demonstrates how to achieve energy savings in the construction and operation of buildings by promoting the use of life cycle assessment techniques in the design for new buildings and for refurbishment. The paper aims to draw on the application of a specific methodology for low energy consumption, integrated planning, environmental performance evaluation of buildings, and design for sustainability and LCA techniques applied to buildings. The ENergy Saving through promotion of LIfe Cycle assessment in buildings (ENSLIC) methodology based on LCA for use in an integral planning process has been promoted to stakeholders who require a means to optimize the environmental performance of buildings. Feedback from the stakeholders has facilitated the creation of simplified LCA guidelines, a systematic approach guiding the user through the alternative options regarding software choices, their strengths and weaknesses, the databases available, the usefulness of different indicators, aggregation, definition of limits and options for simplifying the process. As a result, this paper presents the applied results of a case study where this methodology is implemented serving as an energy savings evaluation tool for decision makers, end-users, professionals involved in the different stages of construction, etc. Finally, it is demonstrated how LCA can facilitate comparisons between different buildings, showing the influence of all variables on a building's life cycle environmental impact and showing the potential for energy savings. Removing market barriers to sustainable construction is actually stricter and this is good news for promoting higher energy efficiency in buildings.

Current and potential ecodesign integration in small and medium enterprises: Construction and related industries

“…The ecodesign of products is based on the integration of environmental aspects into product design and development, with the aim of reducing adverse environmental impacts throughout a product's life cycle (ISO/TR, ). A literature survey revealed that the term “ecodesign” (together with “sustainable design”) was established for expression of improving the environmental performance of buildings (Zabalza, Scarpellini, Aranda, Llera, & Jáñez, ). In this paper ecodesign is used because it is more frequently used in the construction sector and is consistent with the ISO 14000 series (ISO, ).…”

Optimal Planning of Sustainable Buildings: Integration of Life Cycle Assessment and Optimization in a Decision Support System (DSS)

“…The creation of tools that include LCA and optimization algorithms offers potential for technological innovation in structure through the selection, over the whole life cycle, of the best alternatives [23]. Up until now a NZEB-compliant methodology solving all the problems of the complex interplay of energy production and consumption in buildings was not available [24,25]. Moreover, the proposed DSS can be applied to general buildings and use cases: residential and industrial areas, agricultural systems, buildings including offices, manufacturing systems, university campuses, etc.…”

Decomposition and Decoupling Analysis of Life-Cycle Carbon Emission in China’s Building Sector

“…According to National Economical Industry Classification (GB/T4754-2012), the building industry includes: construction of buildings, civil engineering, and renovation and decoration four categories. Based on the previous studies [29,[37][38][39][40][41] and the IPCC method of carbon emission inventories [2], we build the CO 2 emission calculation model for China's building industry. The CO 2 emission calculation of building industry includes two parts: first part is the direct CO 2 emissions and second part is indirect CO 2 emissions shown in the following equation:…”

“…Based on previous studies [17,29,[37][38][39][40], carbon emissions from the building industry should include two parts: one is direct carbon emission from direct fossil fuel combustion in building industry and the other is indirect carbon from building material consumption.…”

“…In addition, a large number of scholars have studied carbon emission from building industry at global-level [2,3,[18][19][20], national-level [8,17,[21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29]], sub-national-level [30][31][32][33][34], etc. What attracted these scholars are three issues: (i) they usually conducted empirical analysis to estimate or predict carbon emission in building industry; (ii) they use quantitative model to quantify these influencing factors of carbon emission in building industry; and (iii) they use qualitative or quantitative model to explore the relationship between economic output and carbon emission in building industry.…”